Operation International’s Annual Summer Benefit

Operation International will host its 21st Annual Summer Benefit on Saturday, September 22, from 6:30 to 10:30 PM at Laurel Lake Vineyards. Guests will enjoy dinner by East End Events Catering and CJ’s American Grill, a silent auction, and dancing under the stars to live music by That Motown Band.

This year, the organization will honor Jack Van De Wetering and, in memoriam, Maryellen Spandonis. Proceeds will benefit Team NY’s medical outreach and work to improve living conditions at the Rakai Infant & Elementary School Orphanage in Uganda. In 1997, Team NY was the first team to make a maiden mission to Haiti with the organization.

Since that time, Team NY has helped efforts in Mexico, Honduras, Brazil, Vietnam, Nepal, Nigeria, Nicaragua, Zambia, Peru, India, Egypt, Kenya, Chile, Ghana, Myanmar, and Tanzania. Today, successful efforts have grown to over 200 medical professionals through countless chapters in America, including Los Angeles, Michigan, and Maryland. Operation International has specialty chapters, focusing on Kids, Restore Vision, Dental, and ENT (ears, nose, and throat).

Operation International is a non-profit founded in 1996 by Medhat Allam, MD, Ravi Kothuru, MD, and Robert Mineo, CRNA that provides free medical care to those in need around the globe.

Formerly named International Surgical Mission Support, the organization prides itself on providing services regardless of religious and political affiliations, gender, or ethnic background.

In addition, it offers training and educational services to local health care workers in each respective country. The alliances and partnerships Operation International has established make it particularly special, ensuring the highest quality of care in the most humanitarian way. These include the Agnes Varis Trust, Americares, AFYA Foundation, Hospital Sisters Mission Outrech, Rotary International, and the United Nations.

Operation International’s board of directors includes Joseph Geoghan, ESQ, Secretary; Christopher Torres, CRNA, and Team NY President; Colleen Brennan, BSN, President of Operation Kids; Ronald Gentile, MD, FACS, FASRS, president of Operation Restore Vision; Shawn Ciceko, MD, FACS, president of Team ENT; Rajesh Patel, MD; Mehul Mehta, MD, president of Team MI; Nilesh Patel, DDS, president of the Dental Team; Vito Alamia, Jr, MD, FACOG; and Robert Armando Casillas, MD, president of Team LA.

VIP tickets, which include luxury bus service to and from the venue, are $200 and individual tickets are $125. Laurel Lake Vineyards is located at 3165 Main Road in Laurel. Call 631-287-6202 or visit www.operationinternational.com or mail checks payable to Operation International and send to 225 Windmill Lane, Suite 1, Southampton, NY, 11968.

nicole@indyeastend.com